Water powered device

Abstract

A number of embodiments of water powered devices that are adapted to be positioned in a stream of moving water and which carry water wheels for driving a driven device. The driven device may comprise a generator and a number of embodiments are illustrated for holding the generator against rotation and for absorbing its torque loading. In addition, a device is provided for insuring buoyancy of the device so that the water wheels float with their axis above the level of water. In some embodiments, the buoyant device comprises a buoyant float that also provides a hydrodynamic lift and a hydrodynamic force for carrying the device to the center of the stream. In other embodiments, the device comprises a hydrodynamic device that provides both the lift and the transverse force. An arrangement is disclosed which permits stacking of the water wheels for ease of packing and additionally an arrangement is disclosed for permitting replacement of individual blades of the water wheels. Various ganging arrangements are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
       1. A water powered device adapted to be moored in a moving water stream for deriving energy from the stream comprising a support member, a buoyant water wheel carried by said support member and rotatable about an axis extending perpendicularly to the direction of stream flow and above the water level, a buoyant water powered device carried by said support member and adapted to float on the water stream and driven by said water wheel, said water powered device generating a torque on said support member about said water wheel axis, and lift generating means carried by said support member at a point spaced upstream from said water wheel axis and adapted to cooperate with said water for generating a lift force to said support member for opposing the torque generated by said water powered device and preventing rotation of said water powered device. 
     
     
       2. A water powered device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lift generating means comprises a buoyant member. 
     
     
       3. A water powered device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the buoyant member is configured to provide a lift force on the support member and a transverse force on said support member for urging said support member and said water powered device transversely relative to the stream of the water toward the center of the stream. 
     
     
       4. A water powered device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the buoyant member is reversible for generating a transverse force in either selected direction on the support member. 
     
     
       5. A water powered device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       6. A water powered device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       7. A water powered device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lift generating member cooperates with the water flow to provide a hydrodynamic lift force. 
     
     
       8. A water powered device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the hydrodynamic member provides both a lift force on the support member and a transverse force on the support member for urging the support member and the water powered device transversely to the center of the stream of water, and means for mooring said support member from a bank of the stream. 
     
     
       9. A water powered device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the hydrodynamic member has a pair of angularly related wings. 
     
     
       10. A water powered device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon an extending portion of said support member for selective reversal on said support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to said support member. 
     
     
       11. A water powered device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the hydrodynamic member is angularly adjustable relative to the support member for altering the lift and thrust forces generated thereupon. 
     
     
       12. A water powered device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon an extending portion of said support member for selective reversal on said support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to said support member. 
     
     
       13. A water powered device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       14. A water powered device as set forth in claim 13 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       15. A water powered device as set forth in claim 14 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon said rigid tubular member for selected reversal on the support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to the support member. 
     
     
       16. A water powered device as set forth in claim 15 further including a second hydrodynamic lift device juxtaposed to the water wheel and providing a lift force on the water wheel. 
     
     
       17. A water powered device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the second hydrodynamic lift device is disposed forwardly of the water wheel and directs the flow of the stream of water at an accelerated rate to the water wheel. 
     
     
       18. A water powered device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the second hydrodynamic device is positioned to the rear of the water wheel. 
     
     
       19. A water powered device as set forth in claim 16 wherein the second hydrodynamic device is adjustable. 
     
     
       20. A water powered device as set forth in claim 19 wherein the second hydrodynamic device has its angle of attack relative to the stream of water and its transverse position relative to the water wheel adjustable. 
     
     
       21. A water powered device adapted to be moored in a moving water stream for deriving energy from the stream comprising a support member, means for mooring said support member from a bank of the stream, a buoyant water wheel carried by said support member and rotatable about an axis that extends perpendicularly to the direction of stream flow and above the water level, a buoyant water powered device carried by said support member and adapted to float on the water stream and driven by said water wheel, and lift generating means carried by said support member forwardly of said water wheel axis and adapted to cooperate with said water for generating a lift force on said support member and a force transverse to the direction of flow of said stream for generating a transverse force upon said support member for moving said support member in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of said stream and to the bank. 
     
     
       22. A water powered device as set forth in claim 21 wherein the lift generating means comprises a buoyant member. 
     
     
       23. A water powered device as set forth in claim 22 wherein the buoyant member comprises a lift wing for generating a lift force on the support member and a keel adapted to be positioned in the body of water and angularly related thereto for generating the transverse force. 
     
     
       24. A water powered device as set forth in claim 23 wherein there are a pair of oppositely directed keels extending from opposite sides from the lift wing and wherein the buoyant member is telescopically received upon the support member for reversal relative to the support member for selective immersion of either of said keels into the body of water for exerting selected oppositely directed transverse forces to the support member. 
     
     
       25. A water powered device as set forth in claim 24 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       26. A water powered device as set forth in claim 25 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       27. A water powered device as set forth in claim 21 wherein the lift generating means comprises a hydrodynamic member. 
     
     
       28. A water powered device as set forth in claim 27 wherein the hydrodynamic member has a pair of angularly related wings. 
     
     
       29. A water powered device as set forth in claim 28 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon an extending portion of said support member for selective reversal on said support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to said support member. 
     
     
       30. A water powered device as set forth in claim 28 wherein the hydrodynamic member is angularly adjustable relative to the support member for altering the lift and thrust forces generated thereupon. 
     
     
       31. A water powered device as set forth in claim 30 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon an extending portion of said support member for selective reversal on said support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to said support member. 
     
     
       32. A water powered device as set forth in claim 29 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       33. A water powered device as set forth in claim 32 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       34. A water powered device as set forth in claim 30 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       35. A water powered device as set forth in claim 34 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       36. A water powered device as set forth in claim 21 wherein there are a pair of water wheels each disposed on an opposite side of the water powered device. 
     
     
       37. A water powered device as set forth in claim 21 wherein there are a pair of water powered devices disposed on opposite sides of and driven by the water wheel. 
     
     
       38. A water powered device as set forth in claim 21 wherein there are a plurality of water wheels and water powered devices arranged in alternating transverse order relative to a common shaft affixed to all of the water wheels and driving all of the water powered devices. 
     
     
       39. A water powered device adapted to be moored in a moving water stream for deriving energy from the stream comprising a support member, means for mooring said support member from a bank of the stream, a buoyant water wheel carried by said support member and rotatable about an axis extending above the water level, a buoyant water powered device carried by said support member and adapted to float on the water stream and being driven by said water wheel, and lift generating means carried by said support member and adapted to cooperate with said water for generating a lift force to said support member and a force transverse to the direction of flow of said stream for generating a lateral force upon said support member for moving said support member in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of said stream and away from the bank, said force being operated on said support member in a direction and magnitude to prevent the generation of a torque upon said support member that would be effective to rotate said support member about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said water wheel. 
     
     
       40. A water powered device as set forth in claim 39 wherein the lift generating means comprises a buoyant member. 
     
     
       41. A water powered device as set forth in claim 40 wherein the buoyant member comprises a lift wing for generating a lift force on the support member and a keel adapted to be positioned in the body of water and angularly related thereto for generating the transverse force. 
     
     
       42. A water powered device as set forth in claim 41 wherein there are a pair of oppositely directed keels extending from opposite sides from the lift wing and wherein the buoyant member is reversible relative to the support member for selective immersion of either of said keels into the body of water for exerting selected oppositely directed transverse forces to the support member. 
     
     
       43. A water powered device as set forth in claim 42 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       44. A water powered device as set forth in claim 43 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       45. A water powered device as set forth in claim 39 wherein the lift generating means comprises a hydrodynamic member. 
     
     
       46. A water powered device as set forth in claim 45 wherein the hydrodynamic member has a pair of angularly related wings. 
     
     
       47. A water powered device as set forth in claim 46 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon an extending portion of said support member for selective reversal on said support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to said support member. 
     
     
       48. A water powered device as set forth in claim 46 wherein the hydrodynamic member is angularly adjustable relative to the support member for altering the lift and thrust forces generated thereupon. 
     
     
       49. A water powered device as set forth in claim 48 wherein the hydrodynamic member is telescopically received upon an extending portion of said support member for selective reversal on said support member for generating a transverse thrust in selected directions to said support member. 
     
     
       50. A water powered device as set forth in claim 47 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       51. A water powered device as set forth in claim 50 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing. 
     
     
       52. A water powered device as set forth in claim 48 wherein the water powered device comprises a generator having a housing fixed relative to the support member. 
     
     
       53. A water powered device as set forth in claim 49 wherein the support member comprises a rigid tubular member extending forwardly from the generator housing.